Think Fast, Steely Dan | Summer Tour 2008
Story by:
Paul Kanterman
The iconic and all too underrated Steely Dan is embarking on another summer tour that will pass through almost a dozen cities. The highlight of the tour is almost certainly the three night run in New York City’s Beacon Theater.
Steely Dan is a band that has blurred the lines of jazz, rock ‘n roll and R&B for over three decades. Known mainly for their perfection in the studio, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker put together an incredible ensemble for their shows. Some of the best jazz and R&B musicians in the business climb on board for these tours. Who knows — you may be lucky enough to catch a date where Michael McDonald unleashes his unflinchingly soulful voice on your eardrums.
THINK FAST, STEELY DAN SUMMER TOUR 2008
06/08/08 Sun Hard Rock Cafe Ft. Lauderdale, FL
06/09/08 Mon Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL*
06/11/08 Wed Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park Alpharetta, GA*
06/13/08 Fri Beacon Theatre New York, NY
06/14/08 Sat Beacon Theatre New York, NY
06/17/08 Tue Beacon Theatre New York, NY
06/23/08 Mon Bank Of America Pavilion Boston, MA*
06/25/08 Wed Chevrolet Theatre Wallingford, CT
06/27/08 Fri The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa Atlantic City, NJ
06/28/08 Sat Susquehanna Bank Center (Formerly Tweeter Center) Camden, NJ*
07/01/08 Tue Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier/ Place des Arts Montreal, QC
07/02/08 Wed Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier/ Place des Arts Montreal, QC
07/03/08 Thu Casino Rama Rama, ON
07/05/08 Sat Ottawa Jazz Festival Ottawa, ON
* w/ Sam Yahel
I’ve been lucky enough to catch the Dan twice in my life and was not disappointed either time; in fact, I was blown away both times. If you are one of the people reading this and saying, “Steely Dan, don’t they sing that song ‘Do It Again’ that I hear on my classic rock station sometimes?” then follow these directions. Go to your local record store, buy Aja or Gaucho, go home and put it on your iPod, and let yourself slip into some of the smoothest, most finely produced music this world has ever heard. If you do know what I’m talking about already, then go throw on “Razor Boy” and start daydreaming about seeing Fagen and Becker this summer. Here’s an added treat…
I saw Steely Dan at the Beacon Theatre Sat June 14. I am an Australian who was visiting NYC for work. The show was brilliant. I have loved them for 30 years and always wanted to see them live. Missed them when they toured Australia last year, but not this time. Great musicians, enough of the great back catalogue, although you could always hear more of it, and studio quality sound. Long live S.D.
I came across a 2008 mix of studio takes from the Gaucho recordings called The Last Gaucho.
Amazing quality (studio-like) of songs I didn’t know. Look for it on the web. Highly recommended.
The Dan could sell it as a new CD.
Joe
I came across a 2008 mix of studio takes from the Gaucho recordings called The Last Gaucho.
Amazing quality (studio-like) of songs I didn’t know. Look for it on the web. Highly recommended.
The Dan could sell it as a new CD.
Joe
I have been a Steely Dan fan for a long time. All the negative comments above are from folks that don’t appreciate the core of what Steely Dan is all about. The last time I saw them was in 2006 in Charlotte, NC. Michael McDonald opened for them and I have to say that I was blown away by the music and not concerned about “signature songs” because the music was more than awesome.
I have been a Steely Dan fan for a long time. All the negative comments above are from folks that don’t appreciate the core of what Steely Dan is all about. The last time I saw them was in 2006 in Charlotte, NC. Michael McDonald opened for them and I have to say that I was blown away by the music and not concerned about “signature songs” because the music was more than awesome.
Just saw the Dallas show. Wow… is all I can say. These guys are the real deal. The set list was great. They are clearly playing more to the true Dan Fans (like me) and ignoring the Rikki-or-else crowd. Show Biz Kids was great, as was Bodhisattva. Keith Carlock stole the show on Aja. They did throw in My Old School in the encore, which I thought was surprising. The crowd loved it. Very nice mix of crowd-pleasers and Deep Cuts for the “real” fans. I was looking forward to Third World Man and Take me Alive, which were absent in Dallas. All in all, great show. Donald’s voice was strained at times, but no more than prior shows I’ve seen.
Just saw the Dallas show. Wow… is all I can say. These guys are the real deal. The set list was great. They are clearly playing more to the true Dan Fans (like me) and ignoring the Rikki-or-else crowd. Show Biz Kids was great, as was Bodhisattva. Keith Carlock stole the show on Aja. They did throw in My Old School in the encore, which I thought was surprising. The crowd loved it. Very nice mix of crowd-pleasers and Deep Cuts for the “real” fans. I was looking forward to Third World Man and Take me Alive, which were absent in Dallas. All in all, great show. Donald’s voice was strained at times, but no more than prior shows I’ve seen.
Really Dan here questioning if that was really Steely Dan in St. Lou?
Fan since CBaT, hardcore, not no more.
Back Jack, try it again.
Rikki please lose that opening act.
Royal “flush” scam. Can I get my money back?
Really Dan here questioning if that was really Steely Dan in St. Lou?
Fan since CBaT, hardcore, not no more.
Back Jack, try it again.
Rikki please lose that opening act.
Royal “flush” scam. Can I get my money back?
Just came back from Houston, and I know the Dan plays in Dallas tonight. They opened with The Fez and some other instrumental-only classic stuff. Those wanting to hear a lot of the Aja album will not be disappointed. Toward the end, Walter was featured on Black Cow. The Gaucho title cut and Aja were also featured. One cover from Countdown to Ecstacy and a lot of covers from Pretzel Logic. Not much Katy Lied so tonight may be your lucky night in the Big-D.
The audience itself was disappointing with a lot of musical chairs and people leaving early. I came 300 miles to see the Dan and didn’t miss a minute; well worth it!
Just came back from Houston, and I know the Dan plays in Dallas tonight. They opened with The Fez and some other instrumental-only classic stuff. Those wanting to hear a lot of the Aja album will not be disappointed. Toward the end, Walter was featured on Black Cow. The Gaucho title cut and Aja were also featured. One cover from Countdown to Ecstacy and a lot of covers from Pretzel Logic. Not much Katy Lied so tonight may be your lucky night in the Big-D.
The audience itself was disappointing with a lot of musical chairs and people leaving early. I came 300 miles to see the Dan and didn’t miss a minute; well worth it!
I’m really looking forward to the show tonight in Dallas as well. Not very optimistic at this point that the group will be playing much of their classic stuff. If they would just play more or most of the Aja album I would be a happy camper. Maybe just Black Cow? To me Aja is much like Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in that it is an eternal classic which does not have a bad track on it. Either way, I know I will enjoy hearing the boys. Not sure how my wife and daughter are going to feel about it though after the show.
I’m really looking forward to the show tonight in Dallas as well. Not very optimistic at this point that the group will be playing much of their classic stuff. If they would just play more or most of the Aja album I would be a happy camper. Maybe just Black Cow? To me Aja is much like Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in that it is an eternal classic which does not have a bad track on it. Either way, I know I will enjoy hearing the boys. Not sure how my wife and daughter are going to feel about it though after the show.
I’m really looking forward to the show tonight in Dallas as well. Not very optimistic at this point that the group will be playing much of their classic stuff. If they would just play more or most of the Aja album I would be a happy camper. Maybe just Black Cow? To me Aja is much like Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in that it is an eternal classic which does not have a bad track on it. Either way, I know I will enjoy hearing the boys. Not sure how my wife and daughter are going to feel about it though after the show.
I agree that Gaucho and Aja are amazing, but I’d like to put in my vote for Countdown to Ecstacy, Pretzel Logic, and Katy Lied. Really, you can’t go wrong with any Dan album, and I look forward to seeing the show in Dallas this week!
I agree that Gaucho and Aja are amazing, but I’d like to put in my vote for Countdown to Ecstacy, Pretzel Logic, and Katy Lied. Really, you can’t go wrong with any Dan album, and I look forward to seeing the show in Dallas this week!
I agree that Gaucho and Aja are amazing, but I’d like to put in my vote for Countdown to Ecstacy, Pretzel Logic, and Katy Lied. Really, you can’t go wrong with any Dan album, and I look forward to seeing the show in Dallas this week!
saw SD last night here in DEEEETROOOIIIIT!
amazing, end all be all type of s***.
Ive been a fan since , well before I was actually a fan, was raised on classic rock but got my own collections of jazz, rock fusion and psych around the age of 15, they bring it all into 1!!!
I was not dissapointed but wanted to hear a few songs tha they didnt do, like a few comments before me, real real mature, to put y person wants, desires before the genius of musical masterpiece.
Go to the show and learn to love the songs you do hear as much as the ones you hear at home!!!
sd for presindent 2008!!!
saw SD last night here in DEEEETROOOIIIIT!
amazing, end all be all type of s***.
Ive been a fan since , well before I was actually a fan, was raised on classic rock but got my own collections of jazz, rock fusion and psych around the age of 15, they bring it all into 1!!!
I was not dissapointed but wanted to hear a few songs tha they didnt do, like a few comments before me, real real mature, to put y person wants, desires before the genius of musical masterpiece.
Go to the show and learn to love the songs you do hear as much as the ones you hear at home!!!
sd for presindent 2008!!!
saw SD last night here in DEEEETROOOIIIIT!
amazing, end all be all type of s***.
Ive been a fan since , well before I was actually a fan, was raised on classic rock but got my own collections of jazz, rock fusion and psych around the age of 15, they bring it all into 1!!!
I was not dissapointed but wanted to hear a few songs tha they didnt do, like a few comments before me, real real mature, to put y person wants, desires before the genius of musical masterpiece.
Go to the show and learn to love the songs you do hear as much as the ones you hear at home!!!
sd for presindent 2008!!!
Set list looks too barren of songs from the last two albums, IMO. If you are not going to draw heavily from your last two albums, it *is* a victory lap tour.
Set list looks too barren of songs from the last two albums, IMO. If you are not going to draw heavily from your last two albums, it *is* a victory lap tour.
Set list looks too barren of songs from the last two albums, IMO. If you are not going to draw heavily from your last two albums, it *is* a victory lap tour.
Wow, people disappointed with a set list?? Others whining about spending $75 for a ticket. I have spilled more than that in my recliner on a good night. Discovering new sounds at each of the last 6 or 7 Steely Dan shows has been a great part of the show. I got hooked on “Don’t Take Me Alive” only after hearing it live. The same with “Third World Man” and “Book of Liars” (I had to toss in a Walter-toon). It doesn’t matter to me whether they play the Top-40 stuff or their more obscure stuff, as long as they keep coming to Detroit every now and again. I did get a chance to see Donald’s solo tour, which allowed him to play from the Trilogy, before it his solo stuff was considered a trilogy. The kids pack a mean orchestra, and their set-lists are outstanding.
craig
Wow, people disappointed with a set list?? Others whining about spending $75 for a ticket. I have spilled more than that in my recliner on a good night. Discovering new sounds at each of the last 6 or 7 Steely Dan shows has been a great part of the show. I got hooked on “Don’t Take Me Alive” only after hearing it live. The same with “Third World Man” and “Book of Liars” (I had to toss in a Walter-toon). It doesn’t matter to me whether they play the Top-40 stuff or their more obscure stuff, as long as they keep coming to Detroit every now and again. I did get a chance to see Donald’s solo tour, which allowed him to play from the Trilogy, before it his solo stuff was considered a trilogy. The kids pack a mean orchestra, and their set-lists are outstanding.
craig
Wow, people disappointed with a set list?? Others whining about spending $75 for a ticket. I have spilled more than that in my recliner on a good night. Discovering new sounds at each of the last 6 or 7 Steely Dan shows has been a great part of the show. I got hooked on “Don’t Take Me Alive” only after hearing it live. The same with “Third World Man” and “Book of Liars” (I had to toss in a Walter-toon). It doesn’t matter to me whether they play the Top-40 stuff or their more obscure stuff, as long as they keep coming to Detroit every now and again. I did get a chance to see Donald’s solo tour, which allowed him to play from the Trilogy, before it his solo stuff was considered a trilogy. The kids pack a mean orchestra, and their set-lists are outstanding.
craig
Also saw SD at the Greek on Sat. night in Berkeley. Amazing. The sound was spectacular. DF’s voice got better into the evening. The ensemble of studio talent was out of this world. Also loved the 2 back-up singers who did help DF on the vocals. Have to also say the lighting tech did a spectacular job. Overall a memorable evening with 2 of the greatest talents from the glory days of rock and jazz.
Also saw SD at the Greek on Sat. night in Berkeley. Amazing. The sound was spectacular. DF’s voice got better into the evening. The ensemble of studio talent was out of this world. Also loved the 2 back-up singers who did help DF on the vocals. Have to also say the lighting tech did a spectacular job. Overall a memorable evening with 2 of the greatest talents from the glory days of rock and jazz.